Steven Hoeft

Class Year:

1973

Outstanding Alumni Award Winner 2013

Steven Hoeft ’73 is known for his expertise in the field of construction and real estate litigation at the international law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP in Chicago. As one of Illinois’ top lawyers, his practice is focused on construction, real estate, securities and commodities, product liability and intellectual property litigation. He has worked extensively with manufacturers, inventors, banks, underwriters and investors, and has had first chair responsibility for jury and bench trials, preliminary injunction hearings, arbitrations and appeals.

At North Central, his extraordinary vision and leadership have been instrumental in guiding the North Central College Board of Trustees during the important transition from the presidency of Dr. Harold R. Wilde to Dr. Troy D. Hammond. He assumed the role of board chair in 2009, and in 2012 helped oversee the presidential search process, transition and inauguration. His expertise and insight have also been important to many trustee committees and the College has benefited from his work on many levels.

As a student at North Central, Steve majored in English studies and political science while becoming the third leading scorer in the history of Cardinal basketball. He also participated in track and field as a triple jumper and was chosen to appear in the 1972 edition of “Outstanding College Athletes of America.”

Steve earned a juris doctor from Northwestern University School of Law in 1976. He was named among the Leading Lawyers in Illinois in 2007, 2009 and 2010 by Leading Lawyers Network magazine. A member of the American Bar Association, he is also a member of the bars of the State of Illinois, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (trial bar), and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth, Seventh, Eighth and Eleventh Circuits.

Steve is a resident of Naperville and the parent of four adult children, including Courtney Hoeft ’00 Rozek and Brandon ’06.